CA1246000A - Sterilization processing system for can-sealed products - Google Patents
Sterilization processing system for can-sealed productsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1246000A CA1246000A CA000473728A CA473728A CA1246000A CA 1246000 A CA1246000 A CA 1246000A CA 000473728 A CA000473728 A CA 000473728A CA 473728 A CA473728 A CA 473728A CA 1246000 A CA1246000 A CA 1246000A
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- Prior art keywords
- basket
- conveyor
- panel
- products
- layer
- Prior art date
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention relates to a system for the sterilizing process for the can-sealed products. The canned products are generally stored in an aligned group in a carrying basket and subjected to the sterilization process in the sterilization processing unit. According to the present invention, there are incorporated loading means and unloading means for the systematic operation in the loading and unloading procedures of the group of canned products and the partition panels into and out of the basket in an alternative fashion one upon another. There are provided pool conveyors both on the entrance and exit sides of the sterilization processing unit, which are adapted to convey and stop temporarily the basket in motion containing the group of canned products and partition panels prior to and after the sterilization process. In addition, the present invention provides improved loading means equipped with truck means moveable in reciprocating motion between the layer conveyor for conveying the canned products and the lifting means for storing partition panels in position, plus suction means and holding means, which means can operate to stack the group of canned products and the plurality of partition panels in an alternative manner in the basket by the reciprocating motion of the truck means. Also, there are provided the unloading means adapted specifically to move in reciprocating motion between the canned product delivering conveyor and the partition panel supply means for picking-up the canned products and partition panels in proper sequence from the basket.
The present invention relates to a system for the sterilizing process for the can-sealed products. The canned products are generally stored in an aligned group in a carrying basket and subjected to the sterilization process in the sterilization processing unit. According to the present invention, there are incorporated loading means and unloading means for the systematic operation in the loading and unloading procedures of the group of canned products and the partition panels into and out of the basket in an alternative fashion one upon another. There are provided pool conveyors both on the entrance and exit sides of the sterilization processing unit, which are adapted to convey and stop temporarily the basket in motion containing the group of canned products and partition panels prior to and after the sterilization process. In addition, the present invention provides improved loading means equipped with truck means moveable in reciprocating motion between the layer conveyor for conveying the canned products and the lifting means for storing partition panels in position, plus suction means and holding means, which means can operate to stack the group of canned products and the plurality of partition panels in an alternative manner in the basket by the reciprocating motion of the truck means. Also, there are provided the unloading means adapted specifically to move in reciprocating motion between the canned product delivering conveyor and the partition panel supply means for picking-up the canned products and partition panels in proper sequence from the basket.
Description
BACKGRO~ND OF TIIE INV~NTION:
The present invention relates generally to improvement in the sterilization processing system for the can-sealed products.
It is generally the practice that the so-called batch type sterilization process is applied in use for the steri-lization of the sealed products from -the general limitation in the throughput of such sterilizing system, in which the sealed products are arranged in a stacked relationship for a collective processing to be conducted on the lot by lot basis. Typical prior art approaches to such a processing system are disclosed, for instance, in the Canadian Patent Application No. 411,616, the U.S. Patent Serial No. 413,254, etc. These systems are directed in common to the provision of the sterilization process system adaptable to the retort pouches, in which a series of pouches are arranged in an aligned relationship on a tray, which is stacked one upon another on a pallet for the purpose of transportation and sterilization process to Eollow in the line of process.
It is to be noted that since it is generally difficult in practice to have such pouches self-supported in positioning unlike the canned products, and since they are susceptible to damages when handling piece by piece, it would then be essential to handle by way of tray with the series of pouches mounted thereon. Also, as the conveyance of such - ~_ 1~i4&00C) pouches is generally practiced in a separated relationship from each other by using the conveyor in contrast to the case of the canned products that can usually be carried in the state "crammed" to the full on the conveyor, it is of the characteristic such that they may be arranged in regular alignment with each other with a relative ease.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN
Figure 1 is a general schematic view showing in explana-tion the sterilization process system for the can-sealed products of conventional construction;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the general appearance of the canned products in a stacked state;
Figure 3 is a general view showing the general lay-out of the canned product sterilization process system with the carrying baskets being in the start-up position by way of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a plan view seen in the direction shown by the arrow V in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI i.n Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 4;
:~24~! 0~) Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a top plan view showing the unloader unit;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along -the line XI-XI in Figure 10; and Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are general views showing the states of operation of the sterilization process system of the invention, which differ in operation from Figure 3.
Now, further to the conventional processing system for the can-sealed products, there are shown certain typical examples by way of Figures 1 and 2, which will be helpful to the better understanding of the present invention to be described hereinafter.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings accompanying herewith, there is shown a supply conveyor designated at the refer-ence numeral 1 which is adapted to supply a series of can-sealed products designated at 2 to a stacking machine at 3, this stacking machine 3 being adapted to stack a re~uired number of can-sealed products 2 in a specified number of stages or layer, and there is shown in Figure 2 the general appearance of a stack of canned products stacked in aligned position by using the stacking machine 3. This drawing figure shows a typical example of the plurality of canned products 2 stacked one upon another on a ground platform 4, equipped with carrying wheels not shown for running in engage-ment along the tracking rails required, in a specified number of stages through a plurality of ..';
,~,3.~ ' 6~ 0 partition panels 5.
~ lso, shown is a sterilizer unit o~ batch-operation type designated at the reference numeral 6, the sterilizer Ullit 6 being designed to store a group of loaded carrier trucks 7a upon which the can-sealed products 2 are stacked in the specified form and perform the specified sterilization process by using a high-temperature and high-pressure water or water vapor, and then cool-off the sterilized products with cooling water or the like, thereafter opening a door 8 so as to discharge them piece by piece onto the rotary table 9.
There is provided an unloading machine designated at 10 which is adapted to unload the sterilized can-sealed products
The present invention relates generally to improvement in the sterilization processing system for the can-sealed products.
It is generally the practice that the so-called batch type sterilization process is applied in use for the steri-lization of the sealed products from -the general limitation in the throughput of such sterilizing system, in which the sealed products are arranged in a stacked relationship for a collective processing to be conducted on the lot by lot basis. Typical prior art approaches to such a processing system are disclosed, for instance, in the Canadian Patent Application No. 411,616, the U.S. Patent Serial No. 413,254, etc. These systems are directed in common to the provision of the sterilization process system adaptable to the retort pouches, in which a series of pouches are arranged in an aligned relationship on a tray, which is stacked one upon another on a pallet for the purpose of transportation and sterilization process to Eollow in the line of process.
It is to be noted that since it is generally difficult in practice to have such pouches self-supported in positioning unlike the canned products, and since they are susceptible to damages when handling piece by piece, it would then be essential to handle by way of tray with the series of pouches mounted thereon. Also, as the conveyance of such - ~_ 1~i4&00C) pouches is generally practiced in a separated relationship from each other by using the conveyor in contrast to the case of the canned products that can usually be carried in the state "crammed" to the full on the conveyor, it is of the characteristic such that they may be arranged in regular alignment with each other with a relative ease.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN
Figure 1 is a general schematic view showing in explana-tion the sterilization process system for the can-sealed products of conventional construction;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the general appearance of the canned products in a stacked state;
Figure 3 is a general view showing the general lay-out of the canned product sterilization process system with the carrying baskets being in the start-up position by way of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a plan view seen in the direction shown by the arrow V in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI i.n Figure 4;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in Figure 4;
:~24~! 0~) Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a top plan view showing the unloader unit;
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along -the line XI-XI in Figure 10; and Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15 are general views showing the states of operation of the sterilization process system of the invention, which differ in operation from Figure 3.
Now, further to the conventional processing system for the can-sealed products, there are shown certain typical examples by way of Figures 1 and 2, which will be helpful to the better understanding of the present invention to be described hereinafter.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings accompanying herewith, there is shown a supply conveyor designated at the refer-ence numeral 1 which is adapted to supply a series of can-sealed products designated at 2 to a stacking machine at 3, this stacking machine 3 being adapted to stack a re~uired number of can-sealed products 2 in a specified number of stages or layer, and there is shown in Figure 2 the general appearance of a stack of canned products stacked in aligned position by using the stacking machine 3. This drawing figure shows a typical example of the plurality of canned products 2 stacked one upon another on a ground platform 4, equipped with carrying wheels not shown for running in engage-ment along the tracking rails required, in a specified number of stages through a plurality of ..';
,~,3.~ ' 6~ 0 partition panels 5.
~ lso, shown is a sterilizer unit o~ batch-operation type designated at the reference numeral 6, the sterilizer Ullit 6 being designed to store a group of loaded carrier trucks 7a upon which the can-sealed products 2 are stacked in the specified form and perform the specified sterilization process by using a high-temperature and high-pressure water or water vapor, and then cool-off the sterilized products with cooling water or the like, thereafter opening a door 8 so as to discharge them piece by piece onto the rotary table 9.
There is provided an unloading machine designated at 10 which is adapted to unload the sterilized can-sealed products
2 from a series of stack-loading trucks 7b, and which operates, in contrast to the stacking machine 3, to unload the products 2 finished with the sterilizing process to a specified form of stacking, with which a single series of or a plurality of series of sterilized products 2 are carried out by way of the carrying conveyor.
There is seen a tracking rail at 12a, which is adapted to convey a vacant or unloaded truck 7c from the unloading machine 10 over to the loading machine 3. Also, there are provided other rails 12b, 12c for the similar purpose between the stacking machine 3 and the sterilizer unit 6, and between the sterilizer unit 6 and the unloading machine 10, respect-ively. Each of these rails 12b, 12c is specifically designed 1246~(~0 for guiding the carrier trucks 7a, 7b to the desired operat-ing positions, respectively.
The conventional sterilization process system noted above is generally arranged in practice such that there are provided a desired number of vacant trucks 7c, the vacant trucks 7c being sent to the stacking machine 3, the loaded trucks 7a being gathered in the leading pool on the tracking rail 12b provided between the stacking machine 3 and the sterilizer unit 6. Also, it is arranged that the generally known stacking machine 3 and the unloading machine 10 can be made available to use with the due combination with the pool arrangement of the sterilized product stack carrying trucks 7b Oll the rail 12c extending between the sterilizer unit 6 and the unloading machine 10, and that the track runs of the vacant trucks 7c and the stack carrying trucks 7a, 7b and the loading and unloading operations with the sterilizer unit 6 can then be automated in practical operation. It is however known that this sterilization process system cannot be exempted from the following drawbacks and inconveniences encountered in the actual operation.
Regardless of the practical employment of the human labor or automated system for the loading and unloading operations of the canned products in the line of steriliza-tion process, it is inevitable that it takes substantial time of period for the carrying trucks 7a, 7b to load into .'~
'~.
12~6~00 and unload ~rom the sterilizer unit 6 prior to and after the sterilizatioll process, respectively, consequently resulting in a substantial reduction in the throughput or productivity of the entire line of can-sealed products production. In coping with this problem, it has been essential in practice to have an increased processing capacity of the sterilizer unit 6 for attaining a correspondingly increased throughput of the entire production line, accord-ingly.
Furthermore, according to the practical sterilization process of the can-sealed products, it is absolutely necessary that any confusion of a group of sterilized products and a group of unsterilized products be prevented from occurring in the flow of process line. In the conventional arrangement of sterilization process, however, it is essential that there is provided a certain apparatus for preventing the grouping of such two parties from being confused with each other, in consideration that the rails 12b and 12c for guiding the carrier trucks 7a and 7b are connected in line with each other, which would necessarily turn out to be costly in money and technique required therefor.
Also, it is encountered in the practice of steriliza-tion operation that the sterilizer Ullit 6 would possibly fail in operation, or that the utility facilities in operative connection with the sterilizer unit 6 would turn to be put ~ _ _ o in trouble, and thell it is required to carry the canned products undergoing the sterilization process out of the sterilizer unit 6 without delay. In consideration of the countermeasure for such possible failures, it is necessary that the rail 12b be designed to be long enough in extension, wllich would then bring such an undesired result that the overall extension of the rail 12c would eventually have to be elongated to an undue extent accordingly to the balance in the general lay-out of the rails 12a through 12c after all.
On the other hand, there is a general trend to have a compound construction of the general lay-out of the sterili-zation process line in the case that there are provided a plurality of sterilization units. In addition, according to the conventional arrangement of the process line as typically shown in FIG. 1, the supply of the partition panels 5 from the unloading machine 10 to the stacking machine 3 is generally conducted by way of the human hands (at least two men3, and also there are required some more personnel at and about the rotary table 9, thus requiring at least six men in total in the ordinary practice~
~UMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In this respect, therefore, the present invention is proposed to practice in pursuit of due solution to such drawbacks and inconveniences of the conventional canned product sterilization process system as noted above, and ~t ~
~246~UO
is essentiall.y directed in an attempt to the provision of an improved calnned product s-terilization process system, whereby the carry-in and carry-out time of period of the carrying baskets with respect to the sterilizer unit in the line of sterilization process can efficiently be cut short, the possibili-ty of confusion in the grouping or separation of sterilized and unsterilized products can e~entually be eliminated, the general lay-out of the entire line of sterilization process may well be simplified, thus contributing to a substantial curtail-ment of the personnel required in the sterilizing line operation, and thus making the automated non-attendance operation of the entire sterilization line possible in practice, accordingly.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a sterilization system for canned products comprising:
a supply conveyor for supplying canned products;
a layer conveyor having an input end adjacent said supply conveyor for receiving canned products therefrom and an output end for discharging a layer of canned products;
layer stopping means positioned adjacent said layer conveyor intermediate said input and output ends thereof for stopping a layer of canned products on said layer conveyor;
first panel lifting means at said output end of said layer conveyor for receiving a partition panel at a horizontal level of said output end;
a basket conveyor having a basket unloading posi-tion and an opposite basket loading position, said basket loading position .~
~2~6~
being at said first panel lifting means, said basket conveyor receiving a basket having an open bottom at said basket loading position with a top of the basket being below the horizontal level of said output end of said layer conveyor, the basket conveyor operating to move baskets from said basket unloading position to said basket loading position;
a product loader having a front stop and a rear stop for holding a layer of canned products therebetween;
second panel lifting means next to said first panel lifting means, said second panel lifting means being for receiving a stack of partition panels;
panel suction means for engaging a partition panel in a stack of panels on said second panel lifting means and for conveying the panel onto said first panel lifting means; truck means connected to said panel suction means and said product loader for alternately moving a layer of products held between said front and rear stops of sai.d product loader onto a panel on said first panel lifting means, and moving said panel suc-tion means to place a panel on the layer of products after said first lifting means has lowered the layer of products into a baske-t at said basket loading position, so that a stack of alternating layers of canned products and partition panels is formed in the basket at said basket loading position;
a first basket pool conveyor having an input end for receiving a basket loaded with panels and canned products from said basket loading position, said first basket pool conveyor ,~'~
~24~ 0 having an output end for discharging baskets loaded with panels and canned products;
at least one sterilization unit having an input ena adjacent said output end of said first basket pooling conveyor, said sterillzation unit having an output end for discharging baskets containing panels and sterilized canned products;
a second basket pool conveyor at said output end of said sterilization unit, said second basket pool conveyor having an output end adjacent said basket unloading position of said basket conveyor for discharging baskets with panels and s-terili-zed products onto said basket conveyor at said basket unloading position;
unloading means at said basket unloading position for unloading alternate panels and layers of sterilized products from a basket at said basket unloading position;
a discharge conveyor for receiving sterilized canned products from said unloading means; and a panel conveyor for receiving panels from said unloading means and conveying said panels onto said second panel lifting means;
said supply, layer, basket, first basket pool, ~econd basket pool and panel conveyors all extending substantially horizontally and said sterilizing unit ex-tending substantially horizontally.
The objects, principle, property and details of the present invention wi:Ll, as well as benefits attainable therefrom, become more apparent from the fo]lowing detailed description ~l ~Z46~0~
by way of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be explained by way of a preferred embodiment thereof as adapted in practice to the line of sterilization process for the can-sealed products ~, ~3:
,~ ~, i,`
~z~o~
(hereinafter, referred to as "canned products") taking the reference to the drawings attached herewith. Now, referring specifically to FIG. 3, there is shown a product supply conveyor designated at the reference numeral 21, which is connected in operative relationship with the filling and sealing unit not shown, and which is adapted to supply the canned products designated at 22 to a loading unit at 23. The loading unit 23 comprises, as principal components, a layer conveyor 24, a layer stopper 25, a product loader 26 and the like, which is adapted to load a required number of stages of canned products 22 supplled from a supply conveyor 21 into position of a carrying basket 28, each stage includ-ing a specified number of canned products, as typically shown in FIG. ~, by aid of partition panels 27, and to carry thus-loaded baskets toward the due position to be relayed onto a basket pool conveyor 29 as shown in FIG. 3.
It is arranged that the layer conveyor 24 is adapted in operation to continuously carry the canned products 22 fed by the supply conveyor 21, after having rotated these products as a unit by 90 degrees by way of the rotating guide or the like not shown, toward a product loader 26.
There is provided the layer stopper 25, which co~prises, as typically shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, side frames 32, 33 seen fixed in position on right and left main frames 30, 31, a gate 34 secured upon the side frames 32, 33 and extending f~
~241~100 across the layer conveyor 24, a pneumatlc cylinder 35 and guide shafts 36 mounted upon the gate 34, and a stopper plate 37 extending across the layer conveyor 24 and adapted to come in contact with the top of the series of canned pxoducts carried along with the conveyor 24 so as to have them stopped in travelling motion thereon.
The pneumatic cylinder 35 is secured with its rod sec-tion to the plate 38 to which the angle braces 39, 39 are fixed in position by using locking bolts 40. The guide shafts 36 are slidably held by way of guide bearings 41 secured upon the gate 34, with the angle braces 39, 39 being fixed rigidly at its lower end by using the bolts 40, similar to the pneumatic cylinder 35 noted above. At the opposite ends of the stopper plate 37 there are secured guide shafts 42, respectively, the guide shafts 42 being introduced slidably into guide bearings 44 fixed to a channel bar 43, this channel bar 43 constructed extending in a loosely mounted relationship between the angle braces 39, 39 in such a manner that it may abut a plate 38 in close contact relationship therewith. Also, there are seen introduced compression springs 45 at the lower ends of the guide bearings 44, which are adjustable with their urging forces rendered upon the canned products 22 by way of the stopper plate 37 by securing or unscrewing nuts 46.
The product loader 26 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, ~, ~ _ ~ _ 1246~0C~
a carriage frame 49 supported by way of wheels 48 at four points adapted to run along a pair of rails 47 which is in integrity with the above mentioned side frames 32, 33, a truck 50 constructed integrally with the carrier frame 49, a pneumatic cylinder 51 adapted to cause the truck 50 to be travelled back and forth, a rear stopper 52 mounted on the carriage frame 49, a lifter 53 for loading the canned products 22 in a stacked position by aid of the partition panels 27, and the like. There is mounted as a unit a bracket 54 by way of welding or otherwise on the carrier frame 49 as typically shown in FIG. 7, with the other end of the bracket 54 being fixed rigidly to the truck 50.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a block 55 is fixed securely to the lower end of the carrier frame 49 by way of an angle 56 in such a manner~that the canned products 22 may be stored in position of a recessed portion 57. The truck 50 is constructed to bind a channel bar 59 together with the bracket 54 and the plate 58, with four wheels 60 mounted rotatably on the side of the channel bar 59 for travelling motion along a pair of guide rails 62, 63 disposed in the inside of a guide rail frame 61. There is provided a base bracket 64, secured integrally with the guide rail frame 61 and together with a bracket 65 integral with the side frame 33 by using lock bolts 66, etc.
The pneumatic cylinder 51 is operatively connected to 12~6000 the end of the truck 50 in such a manner that the truck 50 is caused to travel in reciprocating motion with a stroke of "L" as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The rear stopper 52 is comprised of bearings 67 positioned rigidly on the carrier frame 49, a shaft 68 journaled rotatably by the bearings 67, arms 69 fixed rigidly on the shaft 68, a plate 70 fixed securely to the arms 69 for abutting against the back of ! the canned product 22, and a pneumatic cylinder 71 connected operatively to the shaft 68 through a linkage mechanism so that it causesthe arms 69 in the direction shown by the arrow "P" as viewed in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 6, shown is a partition panel suction apparatus designated at 72, which is adapted to pick up a partition panel 27 piece by piece by sucking function from a lifter 73 (see FIG. 4), upon which a plurality of partition panels 27 are stacked one upon another, and shift thus-picked-up panel toward the carrier frame 49 by the stroke "L" of the pneumatic cylinder 51, thereafter releasing the partition panel 27 down upon the canned products 22 aligned on the commonly known lifter 53 for lifting motions within the carrier basket 28.
There is provided a bracket 75 mounting six sucking discs 74 disposed shiftably depending downwardly at an adjustable interval, and which is suspended operatively from a pneumatic cylinder 77 through a plate 76 in such a manner that it can adjustably be shifted in the vertical directions as shown ;,~,~ ~
~246000 by the arrow "Q". There is also shown a pair of guide shafts 78 secured rigidly at their lower ends to the plate 76 and extending slidably through guide bearings 80 fixed upon a support bracket 79. The support bracket 79, having the pneumatic cylinder 77 and the guide bearings 80 mounted securely thereon, is fixed rigidly upon the truck 50 by way of bolts 81 and the like.
There is shown a corner transfer conveyor 82, which is adapted to turn the basket 28 containing a stack of unsteri-lized canned products 22 (hereinafter, referred to as "theunsterilized can containing basket 28a"), carried along with the basket pool conveyor 29, by 90 degrees in turning motion by aid of rotating rollers driven by means not shown. Also shown is a transfer conveyor 83, which is adapted to carry the unsterilized can containing basket 28a noted above, which has been carried along by a carrying conveyor 84, into sterilization processers 85b and 85c.
A basket pool conveyor 86 is adapted to convey sterilized can containing baskets 28b through the sterilization process at a sterilization processers 85 by aid of the corner transfer conveyor 82, the carrying conveyor 84, the transfer conveyor 83, etc., and have thus conveyed baskets 28b held temporarily in the pool prior to the entrance to an unloading unit 87, thereafter carrying the sterilized can containing baskets 28b in the downstream of an unloading unit 90. Also, the 1246~00 unloading unit 87 is located in the generally symmetrical relationship with the loading unit 23, and operates to handle the sterilized can containing basket 28b carried along with the basket pool conveyor 86 in such a manner that the parti-tion panels 27 are picked up and delivered by another parti-tion panel suction apparatus 88 over to the partition panel suction apparatus 72 through the partition panel supply conveyor 89, and that the canned products 22 are discharged onto the discharging conveyor 91 by function of an unloading unit 90, and also that the vacant or unloaded baskets 28 are departed away to the product loader 26 noted above by way of a basket conveyor 92, respectively.
As the partition panel suction apparatus 88 is of the identical construction with that of the partition panel suction apparatus 72 noted above, the same reference numeral may be used in the following descriptionO This treatment shall apply to other like components involved hereinafter, accordingly. The partition panel 27 is lifted upwardly at the position A shown in FIG. 10 by function of the suction discs 74 from the sterilized can containing basket 28b which has been carried toward the unloading unit 90 from the basket pool conveyor 86. After having shifted to the position B by operating the pneumatic cylinder 51, the partition panel 27 is discharged onto the partition panel supply conveyor 89 (which is placed in the solid-crossing relationship with .~ -- `1 6 --i246~QO
respect to the basket pool conveyor 86 so that it may not interfere with the shlfting motion of the sterilized can containing basket 28b during operation.).
It is noted that the substantial difference between the unloading unit 90 and the product loader 26 resides in the aspect such that there is employed a front stopper 93 in place of the rear stopper 52 and the block 55 is replaced with a pusher bar 94, and also that the layer stopper 25 is omitted in construction. As shown in FIG. 11, there is provided the front stopper designated at 93, which is constructed in such a manner that an arm 95 fixed around the shaft 68 may be rotated in the direction shown by the arrow "R". The pusher bar 94 is fixed rigidly to the lower part of the carrier frame 49, so that it can come to abut the backs of the canned products 22, when they approach during the conveyance. Also, there is seen a discharging conveyor 96, which is adapted to convey the canned products 22 finished with the sterilization process into the subsequent steps of processing in the line.
Next, referring to the operation of the present canned product sterilization process system, the canned products 22 delivered from the filling and sealing equipment not shown to the layer conveyor 24 through the supply conveyor 21 are now transferred toward the product loader 26, while being realigned to a specified width of arrangement during /~
~it 6'~(~0 the conveyance with a closely crammed relationship with each other. After passing the series of canned products aligned in one layer or stage of the general appearance shown in FIG. 2, the stopper plate 37 is caused to be lowered into due position by function of the pneumatic cylinder 35 of the layer stopper 25 so that it may come to urge and stop the leading line of canned products 22 in the following lot as schematically shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. ~.
At this moment, the product loader 26 is located at the position C, FIG. 10, working to stop the leading line of canned products 22 while progressing along with the layer conveyor 24 with the block 55, and operating the pneumatic cylinder 71 so as to cause the arms 69 to turn in the clock-wise direction for holding the group of canned products 22 in sandwiched relationship with the block 55, accordingly.
In the following step, as the pneumatic cylinder 51 is actuated, the product loader 26 is caused to shift with one stack or stage of canned products 22 toward the position A
(there is provided a can guide panel not shown between the product loader 26 and the layer conveyor 24). On the other hand, the vacant or unloaded basket 28 delivered to the position A from the basket conveyor 92 is placed onto sprockets 97 as shown in FIG. 4, and as the ground panel 98 is lifted at the level of the partition panel 27a by func-tion of the lifter 53 (see FIG. 4) at this moment, the one , -- ~8 --~z~oo stage of canned products 22 is now ready to be transferredonto the ground panel 98, thereafter the arms 69 are caused to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction so as to release these canned products, and then the lifter 53 is lowered to position by the pitch "H" ready for the subse-quent steps. While the product loader 26 is located at the position A, or with the partition panel suction apparatus 72 staying in the position B, the pneumatic cylinder 77 is operated so as to cause the suction discs 74 to be lowered upon a partition panel 27 to engage in sucking function therewith, then turning back -to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4.
Next, by actuating the pneumatic cylinder 51, the product loader 26 is shifted from the position A to the position C, thereby holding the one stage of canned products 22 in sandwiched relationship, and concurrently, the parti-tion panel suction apparatus 72 functions to pick-up a sheet of partition panel 27 by suction and deliver the same from the position B to the position A, where it releases the par-tition panel 27 upon the canned products 22 arranged on theground panel 98.
Repeating the working cycle noted above, the carrying basket 28 is duly filled up with the required number of stages of canned products 22, thereafter to be delivered to the basket pool conveyor 29. Subsequently, a series of ,. _ ~9 _ lZ46~00 vacant baskets 28 (shown by solid-line squares and dotted-line squares) are filled in sequence with a required number of stages of canned products 22 and then delivered into the three sterilization processers 85a through 85c, which is generally shown in FIG. 12. (In the drawing figures, a square with a quarter diagonal line in it shows the one in the load-ing step; the one with one and a quarter diagonal lines showing it in the sterilizing state in the processing line.) In FIG. 13, there is shown the state that the loaded basket 28 in the sterilization processer 85a is completed with its sterilization process. (a dotted-line square with two diagonal lines in it shows the one completed with the sterilization process) Now, in FIG. 14, there is shown the state that the sterilized can containing baskets 28b in the sterilization processer 85a are carried to the basket pool conveyor 86 through the corner transfer conveyor 82 and the carrier conveyor 84, while delivering the unsterilized can containing baskets 28a into the sterilization processer 85a.
Now, referring to the sterilization processers 85b and 85c, the same sequence of processing is performed as in the sterilization processer 85a, thus resulting in the arrange-ment of backets as shown in FIG. 15. The difference from FIG. 12 is the aspect that the sterilized can containing baskets 28b are being delivered to the unloading unit 87, 124~;0V0 in contrast to the vacant or unloaded baskets 28.
Next, the reference is made to the unloading procedure of the sterilized can containing basket 28b. In the first place, the sterilized can containing baskets 28b carried along with the basket pool conveyor 86 into the position under the unloading unit 90, or into the position A are then subjected to the handling with which the sterilized canned products 22 are raised upwardly to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 by way of the lifter 53.
At this moment, the pneumatic cylinder 71 is operated to rotate the arm 95 clockwise into the solid-line position as viewed in FIG. 11, thereafter the pneumatic cylinder 51 functioning to cause the carriage frame 49 of the unloading unit 90 to be shifted from the position A to the position C, and then the highest stage of canned products 22 is subjected to the urging force of the pusher bar 94 so as to be dis-charged through the can guide plate not shown to the dis-charging conveyor 91, then causing the arm 95 to be rotated counterclockwise by the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 51, and then delivered to the subsequent handling procedure in the processing line by way of the discharging conveyor 96.
When the carriage frame 49 of the unloading unit 90 is in the position C, the partition panel suction apparatus 88 remains in the position A, operating the pneumatic cylinder 77 to cause the suction discs 74 to be lowered so as to .. 0~,~
~ - ~, _ ~Z~6~00 engage the partition panel 27 by sucking function. Next, the pneumatic cylinder 51 is then actuated so that the parti-tion panel suction apparatus 88 is shifted from the position A to the position B, and the carriage frame 49 of the unload-ing unit 90 from the position C to the position A, respec-tively, where the partition panel suction apparatus 88 functions to release the partition panel 27 onto the parti-tion panel supply conveyor 89 so that a plurality of parti-tion panels 27 may be stacked upon the lifter 73 on the part of the loading unit 23, and at the same time, the unloading unit 90 functions in the same sequence of operations as noted above.
In accordance with the repetition of the same working cycles as stated hereinbefore, it is noted that the sterilized canned products 22 are eventually delivered over to the discharging conveyor 91, the partition panels 27 being delivered over to the partition panel supply conveyor 89, the vacant baskets 28 delivered to the product loader 26 through the basket conveyor 92, respectively.
As fully explained in detail herein by way of the pre-ferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be noted that the overall period of time required for the delivery of the series of baskets into and out of the sterilization processers 85 can be curtailed substantially by virtue of the employment of the "first-in, first out" process with . ~ ~3 :~z~vo the entrance and the exit for the baskets with respect to the sterilization processers provided separately from each other, accordingly. Also, it is notable that there is no longer left any fear of confusion of the sterilized and unsterilized groups of canned products, by virtue of the arrangement that there is no operative connection between the conveyors for the unsterilized and sterilized can baskets. Furthermore, according to the advantage of auto-mated supply and removal procedures for the partition panels, there can be effected an optimalized control on the current quantity of baskets put in the pool before and after the sterilization processers in the processing line to an as small as possible number, thereby resulting in an as simple as possible lay-out of the processing line. In addition, there is attained a substantial curtailment of the personnel for attendance at the processing line, or even a non-attendance operation is feasible in practice, by virtue of the employment of the automation in the supply and removal procedures of the partition panels, accordingly.
While the present invention was fully explained hereinbefore by way of the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the specific construction shown in the preferred embodiment, but to the contrary, many changes ancl modifications may be made in ~2'~
the foregoing teachings without any restriction thereto and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It is also to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all of such generic and specific features particular to the invention as disclosed herein and all statements relating to the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language might be said to fall there-under.
_ ~_
There is seen a tracking rail at 12a, which is adapted to convey a vacant or unloaded truck 7c from the unloading machine 10 over to the loading machine 3. Also, there are provided other rails 12b, 12c for the similar purpose between the stacking machine 3 and the sterilizer unit 6, and between the sterilizer unit 6 and the unloading machine 10, respect-ively. Each of these rails 12b, 12c is specifically designed 1246~(~0 for guiding the carrier trucks 7a, 7b to the desired operat-ing positions, respectively.
The conventional sterilization process system noted above is generally arranged in practice such that there are provided a desired number of vacant trucks 7c, the vacant trucks 7c being sent to the stacking machine 3, the loaded trucks 7a being gathered in the leading pool on the tracking rail 12b provided between the stacking machine 3 and the sterilizer unit 6. Also, it is arranged that the generally known stacking machine 3 and the unloading machine 10 can be made available to use with the due combination with the pool arrangement of the sterilized product stack carrying trucks 7b Oll the rail 12c extending between the sterilizer unit 6 and the unloading machine 10, and that the track runs of the vacant trucks 7c and the stack carrying trucks 7a, 7b and the loading and unloading operations with the sterilizer unit 6 can then be automated in practical operation. It is however known that this sterilization process system cannot be exempted from the following drawbacks and inconveniences encountered in the actual operation.
Regardless of the practical employment of the human labor or automated system for the loading and unloading operations of the canned products in the line of steriliza-tion process, it is inevitable that it takes substantial time of period for the carrying trucks 7a, 7b to load into .'~
'~.
12~6~00 and unload ~rom the sterilizer unit 6 prior to and after the sterilizatioll process, respectively, consequently resulting in a substantial reduction in the throughput or productivity of the entire line of can-sealed products production. In coping with this problem, it has been essential in practice to have an increased processing capacity of the sterilizer unit 6 for attaining a correspondingly increased throughput of the entire production line, accord-ingly.
Furthermore, according to the practical sterilization process of the can-sealed products, it is absolutely necessary that any confusion of a group of sterilized products and a group of unsterilized products be prevented from occurring in the flow of process line. In the conventional arrangement of sterilization process, however, it is essential that there is provided a certain apparatus for preventing the grouping of such two parties from being confused with each other, in consideration that the rails 12b and 12c for guiding the carrier trucks 7a and 7b are connected in line with each other, which would necessarily turn out to be costly in money and technique required therefor.
Also, it is encountered in the practice of steriliza-tion operation that the sterilizer Ullit 6 would possibly fail in operation, or that the utility facilities in operative connection with the sterilizer unit 6 would turn to be put ~ _ _ o in trouble, and thell it is required to carry the canned products undergoing the sterilization process out of the sterilizer unit 6 without delay. In consideration of the countermeasure for such possible failures, it is necessary that the rail 12b be designed to be long enough in extension, wllich would then bring such an undesired result that the overall extension of the rail 12c would eventually have to be elongated to an undue extent accordingly to the balance in the general lay-out of the rails 12a through 12c after all.
On the other hand, there is a general trend to have a compound construction of the general lay-out of the sterili-zation process line in the case that there are provided a plurality of sterilization units. In addition, according to the conventional arrangement of the process line as typically shown in FIG. 1, the supply of the partition panels 5 from the unloading machine 10 to the stacking machine 3 is generally conducted by way of the human hands (at least two men3, and also there are required some more personnel at and about the rotary table 9, thus requiring at least six men in total in the ordinary practice~
~UMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
In this respect, therefore, the present invention is proposed to practice in pursuit of due solution to such drawbacks and inconveniences of the conventional canned product sterilization process system as noted above, and ~t ~
~246~UO
is essentiall.y directed in an attempt to the provision of an improved calnned product s-terilization process system, whereby the carry-in and carry-out time of period of the carrying baskets with respect to the sterilizer unit in the line of sterilization process can efficiently be cut short, the possibili-ty of confusion in the grouping or separation of sterilized and unsterilized products can e~entually be eliminated, the general lay-out of the entire line of sterilization process may well be simplified, thus contributing to a substantial curtail-ment of the personnel required in the sterilizing line operation, and thus making the automated non-attendance operation of the entire sterilization line possible in practice, accordingly.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a sterilization system for canned products comprising:
a supply conveyor for supplying canned products;
a layer conveyor having an input end adjacent said supply conveyor for receiving canned products therefrom and an output end for discharging a layer of canned products;
layer stopping means positioned adjacent said layer conveyor intermediate said input and output ends thereof for stopping a layer of canned products on said layer conveyor;
first panel lifting means at said output end of said layer conveyor for receiving a partition panel at a horizontal level of said output end;
a basket conveyor having a basket unloading posi-tion and an opposite basket loading position, said basket loading position .~
~2~6~
being at said first panel lifting means, said basket conveyor receiving a basket having an open bottom at said basket loading position with a top of the basket being below the horizontal level of said output end of said layer conveyor, the basket conveyor operating to move baskets from said basket unloading position to said basket loading position;
a product loader having a front stop and a rear stop for holding a layer of canned products therebetween;
second panel lifting means next to said first panel lifting means, said second panel lifting means being for receiving a stack of partition panels;
panel suction means for engaging a partition panel in a stack of panels on said second panel lifting means and for conveying the panel onto said first panel lifting means; truck means connected to said panel suction means and said product loader for alternately moving a layer of products held between said front and rear stops of sai.d product loader onto a panel on said first panel lifting means, and moving said panel suc-tion means to place a panel on the layer of products after said first lifting means has lowered the layer of products into a baske-t at said basket loading position, so that a stack of alternating layers of canned products and partition panels is formed in the basket at said basket loading position;
a first basket pool conveyor having an input end for receiving a basket loaded with panels and canned products from said basket loading position, said first basket pool conveyor ,~'~
~24~ 0 having an output end for discharging baskets loaded with panels and canned products;
at least one sterilization unit having an input ena adjacent said output end of said first basket pooling conveyor, said sterillzation unit having an output end for discharging baskets containing panels and sterilized canned products;
a second basket pool conveyor at said output end of said sterilization unit, said second basket pool conveyor having an output end adjacent said basket unloading position of said basket conveyor for discharging baskets with panels and s-terili-zed products onto said basket conveyor at said basket unloading position;
unloading means at said basket unloading position for unloading alternate panels and layers of sterilized products from a basket at said basket unloading position;
a discharge conveyor for receiving sterilized canned products from said unloading means; and a panel conveyor for receiving panels from said unloading means and conveying said panels onto said second panel lifting means;
said supply, layer, basket, first basket pool, ~econd basket pool and panel conveyors all extending substantially horizontally and said sterilizing unit ex-tending substantially horizontally.
The objects, principle, property and details of the present invention wi:Ll, as well as benefits attainable therefrom, become more apparent from the fo]lowing detailed description ~l ~Z46~0~
by way of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be explained by way of a preferred embodiment thereof as adapted in practice to the line of sterilization process for the can-sealed products ~, ~3:
,~ ~, i,`
~z~o~
(hereinafter, referred to as "canned products") taking the reference to the drawings attached herewith. Now, referring specifically to FIG. 3, there is shown a product supply conveyor designated at the reference numeral 21, which is connected in operative relationship with the filling and sealing unit not shown, and which is adapted to supply the canned products designated at 22 to a loading unit at 23. The loading unit 23 comprises, as principal components, a layer conveyor 24, a layer stopper 25, a product loader 26 and the like, which is adapted to load a required number of stages of canned products 22 supplled from a supply conveyor 21 into position of a carrying basket 28, each stage includ-ing a specified number of canned products, as typically shown in FIG. ~, by aid of partition panels 27, and to carry thus-loaded baskets toward the due position to be relayed onto a basket pool conveyor 29 as shown in FIG. 3.
It is arranged that the layer conveyor 24 is adapted in operation to continuously carry the canned products 22 fed by the supply conveyor 21, after having rotated these products as a unit by 90 degrees by way of the rotating guide or the like not shown, toward a product loader 26.
There is provided the layer stopper 25, which co~prises, as typically shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, side frames 32, 33 seen fixed in position on right and left main frames 30, 31, a gate 34 secured upon the side frames 32, 33 and extending f~
~241~100 across the layer conveyor 24, a pneumatlc cylinder 35 and guide shafts 36 mounted upon the gate 34, and a stopper plate 37 extending across the layer conveyor 24 and adapted to come in contact with the top of the series of canned pxoducts carried along with the conveyor 24 so as to have them stopped in travelling motion thereon.
The pneumatic cylinder 35 is secured with its rod sec-tion to the plate 38 to which the angle braces 39, 39 are fixed in position by using locking bolts 40. The guide shafts 36 are slidably held by way of guide bearings 41 secured upon the gate 34, with the angle braces 39, 39 being fixed rigidly at its lower end by using the bolts 40, similar to the pneumatic cylinder 35 noted above. At the opposite ends of the stopper plate 37 there are secured guide shafts 42, respectively, the guide shafts 42 being introduced slidably into guide bearings 44 fixed to a channel bar 43, this channel bar 43 constructed extending in a loosely mounted relationship between the angle braces 39, 39 in such a manner that it may abut a plate 38 in close contact relationship therewith. Also, there are seen introduced compression springs 45 at the lower ends of the guide bearings 44, which are adjustable with their urging forces rendered upon the canned products 22 by way of the stopper plate 37 by securing or unscrewing nuts 46.
The product loader 26 comprises, as shown in FIG. 5, ~, ~ _ ~ _ 1246~0C~
a carriage frame 49 supported by way of wheels 48 at four points adapted to run along a pair of rails 47 which is in integrity with the above mentioned side frames 32, 33, a truck 50 constructed integrally with the carrier frame 49, a pneumatic cylinder 51 adapted to cause the truck 50 to be travelled back and forth, a rear stopper 52 mounted on the carriage frame 49, a lifter 53 for loading the canned products 22 in a stacked position by aid of the partition panels 27, and the like. There is mounted as a unit a bracket 54 by way of welding or otherwise on the carrier frame 49 as typically shown in FIG. 7, with the other end of the bracket 54 being fixed rigidly to the truck 50.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a block 55 is fixed securely to the lower end of the carrier frame 49 by way of an angle 56 in such a manner~that the canned products 22 may be stored in position of a recessed portion 57. The truck 50 is constructed to bind a channel bar 59 together with the bracket 54 and the plate 58, with four wheels 60 mounted rotatably on the side of the channel bar 59 for travelling motion along a pair of guide rails 62, 63 disposed in the inside of a guide rail frame 61. There is provided a base bracket 64, secured integrally with the guide rail frame 61 and together with a bracket 65 integral with the side frame 33 by using lock bolts 66, etc.
The pneumatic cylinder 51 is operatively connected to 12~6000 the end of the truck 50 in such a manner that the truck 50 is caused to travel in reciprocating motion with a stroke of "L" as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The rear stopper 52 is comprised of bearings 67 positioned rigidly on the carrier frame 49, a shaft 68 journaled rotatably by the bearings 67, arms 69 fixed rigidly on the shaft 68, a plate 70 fixed securely to the arms 69 for abutting against the back of ! the canned product 22, and a pneumatic cylinder 71 connected operatively to the shaft 68 through a linkage mechanism so that it causesthe arms 69 in the direction shown by the arrow "P" as viewed in FIG. 4.
In FIG. 6, shown is a partition panel suction apparatus designated at 72, which is adapted to pick up a partition panel 27 piece by piece by sucking function from a lifter 73 (see FIG. 4), upon which a plurality of partition panels 27 are stacked one upon another, and shift thus-picked-up panel toward the carrier frame 49 by the stroke "L" of the pneumatic cylinder 51, thereafter releasing the partition panel 27 down upon the canned products 22 aligned on the commonly known lifter 53 for lifting motions within the carrier basket 28.
There is provided a bracket 75 mounting six sucking discs 74 disposed shiftably depending downwardly at an adjustable interval, and which is suspended operatively from a pneumatic cylinder 77 through a plate 76 in such a manner that it can adjustably be shifted in the vertical directions as shown ;,~,~ ~
~246000 by the arrow "Q". There is also shown a pair of guide shafts 78 secured rigidly at their lower ends to the plate 76 and extending slidably through guide bearings 80 fixed upon a support bracket 79. The support bracket 79, having the pneumatic cylinder 77 and the guide bearings 80 mounted securely thereon, is fixed rigidly upon the truck 50 by way of bolts 81 and the like.
There is shown a corner transfer conveyor 82, which is adapted to turn the basket 28 containing a stack of unsteri-lized canned products 22 (hereinafter, referred to as "theunsterilized can containing basket 28a"), carried along with the basket pool conveyor 29, by 90 degrees in turning motion by aid of rotating rollers driven by means not shown. Also shown is a transfer conveyor 83, which is adapted to carry the unsterilized can containing basket 28a noted above, which has been carried along by a carrying conveyor 84, into sterilization processers 85b and 85c.
A basket pool conveyor 86 is adapted to convey sterilized can containing baskets 28b through the sterilization process at a sterilization processers 85 by aid of the corner transfer conveyor 82, the carrying conveyor 84, the transfer conveyor 83, etc., and have thus conveyed baskets 28b held temporarily in the pool prior to the entrance to an unloading unit 87, thereafter carrying the sterilized can containing baskets 28b in the downstream of an unloading unit 90. Also, the 1246~00 unloading unit 87 is located in the generally symmetrical relationship with the loading unit 23, and operates to handle the sterilized can containing basket 28b carried along with the basket pool conveyor 86 in such a manner that the parti-tion panels 27 are picked up and delivered by another parti-tion panel suction apparatus 88 over to the partition panel suction apparatus 72 through the partition panel supply conveyor 89, and that the canned products 22 are discharged onto the discharging conveyor 91 by function of an unloading unit 90, and also that the vacant or unloaded baskets 28 are departed away to the product loader 26 noted above by way of a basket conveyor 92, respectively.
As the partition panel suction apparatus 88 is of the identical construction with that of the partition panel suction apparatus 72 noted above, the same reference numeral may be used in the following descriptionO This treatment shall apply to other like components involved hereinafter, accordingly. The partition panel 27 is lifted upwardly at the position A shown in FIG. 10 by function of the suction discs 74 from the sterilized can containing basket 28b which has been carried toward the unloading unit 90 from the basket pool conveyor 86. After having shifted to the position B by operating the pneumatic cylinder 51, the partition panel 27 is discharged onto the partition panel supply conveyor 89 (which is placed in the solid-crossing relationship with .~ -- `1 6 --i246~QO
respect to the basket pool conveyor 86 so that it may not interfere with the shlfting motion of the sterilized can containing basket 28b during operation.).
It is noted that the substantial difference between the unloading unit 90 and the product loader 26 resides in the aspect such that there is employed a front stopper 93 in place of the rear stopper 52 and the block 55 is replaced with a pusher bar 94, and also that the layer stopper 25 is omitted in construction. As shown in FIG. 11, there is provided the front stopper designated at 93, which is constructed in such a manner that an arm 95 fixed around the shaft 68 may be rotated in the direction shown by the arrow "R". The pusher bar 94 is fixed rigidly to the lower part of the carrier frame 49, so that it can come to abut the backs of the canned products 22, when they approach during the conveyance. Also, there is seen a discharging conveyor 96, which is adapted to convey the canned products 22 finished with the sterilization process into the subsequent steps of processing in the line.
Next, referring to the operation of the present canned product sterilization process system, the canned products 22 delivered from the filling and sealing equipment not shown to the layer conveyor 24 through the supply conveyor 21 are now transferred toward the product loader 26, while being realigned to a specified width of arrangement during /~
~it 6'~(~0 the conveyance with a closely crammed relationship with each other. After passing the series of canned products aligned in one layer or stage of the general appearance shown in FIG. 2, the stopper plate 37 is caused to be lowered into due position by function of the pneumatic cylinder 35 of the layer stopper 25 so that it may come to urge and stop the leading line of canned products 22 in the following lot as schematically shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. ~.
At this moment, the product loader 26 is located at the position C, FIG. 10, working to stop the leading line of canned products 22 while progressing along with the layer conveyor 24 with the block 55, and operating the pneumatic cylinder 71 so as to cause the arms 69 to turn in the clock-wise direction for holding the group of canned products 22 in sandwiched relationship with the block 55, accordingly.
In the following step, as the pneumatic cylinder 51 is actuated, the product loader 26 is caused to shift with one stack or stage of canned products 22 toward the position A
(there is provided a can guide panel not shown between the product loader 26 and the layer conveyor 24). On the other hand, the vacant or unloaded basket 28 delivered to the position A from the basket conveyor 92 is placed onto sprockets 97 as shown in FIG. 4, and as the ground panel 98 is lifted at the level of the partition panel 27a by func-tion of the lifter 53 (see FIG. 4) at this moment, the one , -- ~8 --~z~oo stage of canned products 22 is now ready to be transferredonto the ground panel 98, thereafter the arms 69 are caused to be rotated in the counterclockwise direction so as to release these canned products, and then the lifter 53 is lowered to position by the pitch "H" ready for the subse-quent steps. While the product loader 26 is located at the position A, or with the partition panel suction apparatus 72 staying in the position B, the pneumatic cylinder 77 is operated so as to cause the suction discs 74 to be lowered upon a partition panel 27 to engage in sucking function therewith, then turning back -to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4.
Next, by actuating the pneumatic cylinder 51, the product loader 26 is shifted from the position A to the position C, thereby holding the one stage of canned products 22 in sandwiched relationship, and concurrently, the parti-tion panel suction apparatus 72 functions to pick-up a sheet of partition panel 27 by suction and deliver the same from the position B to the position A, where it releases the par-tition panel 27 upon the canned products 22 arranged on theground panel 98.
Repeating the working cycle noted above, the carrying basket 28 is duly filled up with the required number of stages of canned products 22, thereafter to be delivered to the basket pool conveyor 29. Subsequently, a series of ,. _ ~9 _ lZ46~00 vacant baskets 28 (shown by solid-line squares and dotted-line squares) are filled in sequence with a required number of stages of canned products 22 and then delivered into the three sterilization processers 85a through 85c, which is generally shown in FIG. 12. (In the drawing figures, a square with a quarter diagonal line in it shows the one in the load-ing step; the one with one and a quarter diagonal lines showing it in the sterilizing state in the processing line.) In FIG. 13, there is shown the state that the loaded basket 28 in the sterilization processer 85a is completed with its sterilization process. (a dotted-line square with two diagonal lines in it shows the one completed with the sterilization process) Now, in FIG. 14, there is shown the state that the sterilized can containing baskets 28b in the sterilization processer 85a are carried to the basket pool conveyor 86 through the corner transfer conveyor 82 and the carrier conveyor 84, while delivering the unsterilized can containing baskets 28a into the sterilization processer 85a.
Now, referring to the sterilization processers 85b and 85c, the same sequence of processing is performed as in the sterilization processer 85a, thus resulting in the arrange-ment of backets as shown in FIG. 15. The difference from FIG. 12 is the aspect that the sterilized can containing baskets 28b are being delivered to the unloading unit 87, 124~;0V0 in contrast to the vacant or unloaded baskets 28.
Next, the reference is made to the unloading procedure of the sterilized can containing basket 28b. In the first place, the sterilized can containing baskets 28b carried along with the basket pool conveyor 86 into the position under the unloading unit 90, or into the position A are then subjected to the handling with which the sterilized canned products 22 are raised upwardly to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11 by way of the lifter 53.
At this moment, the pneumatic cylinder 71 is operated to rotate the arm 95 clockwise into the solid-line position as viewed in FIG. 11, thereafter the pneumatic cylinder 51 functioning to cause the carriage frame 49 of the unloading unit 90 to be shifted from the position A to the position C, and then the highest stage of canned products 22 is subjected to the urging force of the pusher bar 94 so as to be dis-charged through the can guide plate not shown to the dis-charging conveyor 91, then causing the arm 95 to be rotated counterclockwise by the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder 51, and then delivered to the subsequent handling procedure in the processing line by way of the discharging conveyor 96.
When the carriage frame 49 of the unloading unit 90 is in the position C, the partition panel suction apparatus 88 remains in the position A, operating the pneumatic cylinder 77 to cause the suction discs 74 to be lowered so as to .. 0~,~
~ - ~, _ ~Z~6~00 engage the partition panel 27 by sucking function. Next, the pneumatic cylinder 51 is then actuated so that the parti-tion panel suction apparatus 88 is shifted from the position A to the position B, and the carriage frame 49 of the unload-ing unit 90 from the position C to the position A, respec-tively, where the partition panel suction apparatus 88 functions to release the partition panel 27 onto the parti-tion panel supply conveyor 89 so that a plurality of parti-tion panels 27 may be stacked upon the lifter 73 on the part of the loading unit 23, and at the same time, the unloading unit 90 functions in the same sequence of operations as noted above.
In accordance with the repetition of the same working cycles as stated hereinbefore, it is noted that the sterilized canned products 22 are eventually delivered over to the discharging conveyor 91, the partition panels 27 being delivered over to the partition panel supply conveyor 89, the vacant baskets 28 delivered to the product loader 26 through the basket conveyor 92, respectively.
As fully explained in detail herein by way of the pre-ferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be noted that the overall period of time required for the delivery of the series of baskets into and out of the sterilization processers 85 can be curtailed substantially by virtue of the employment of the "first-in, first out" process with . ~ ~3 :~z~vo the entrance and the exit for the baskets with respect to the sterilization processers provided separately from each other, accordingly. Also, it is notable that there is no longer left any fear of confusion of the sterilized and unsterilized groups of canned products, by virtue of the arrangement that there is no operative connection between the conveyors for the unsterilized and sterilized can baskets. Furthermore, according to the advantage of auto-mated supply and removal procedures for the partition panels, there can be effected an optimalized control on the current quantity of baskets put in the pool before and after the sterilization processers in the processing line to an as small as possible number, thereby resulting in an as simple as possible lay-out of the processing line. In addition, there is attained a substantial curtailment of the personnel for attendance at the processing line, or even a non-attendance operation is feasible in practice, by virtue of the employment of the automation in the supply and removal procedures of the partition panels, accordingly.
While the present invention was fully explained hereinbefore by way of the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the specific construction shown in the preferred embodiment, but to the contrary, many changes ancl modifications may be made in ~2'~
the foregoing teachings without any restriction thereto and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It is also to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all of such generic and specific features particular to the invention as disclosed herein and all statements relating to the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language might be said to fall there-under.
_ ~_
Claims (6)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A sterilization system for canned products comprising:
a supply conveyor for supplying canned products;
a layer conveyor having an input end adjacent said supply conveyor for receiving canned products therefrom and an output end for discharging a layer of canned products;
layer stopping means positioned adjacent said layer conveyor intermediate said input and output ends thereof for stopping a layer of canned products on said layer conveyor;
first panel lifting means at said output end of said layer conveyor for receiving a partition panel at a horizontal level of said output end;
a basket conveyor having a basket unloading position and an opposite basket loading position, said basket loading posi-tion being at said first panel lifting means, said basket loading position being at said first panel lifting means, said basket conveyor receiving a basket having an open bottom at said basket loading position with a top of the basket being below the horizontal level of said output end of said layer conveyor, the basket conveyor operating to move baskets from said basket unloading position to said basket loading position;
a product loader having a front stop and a rear stop for holding a layer of canned products therebetween;
second panel lifting means next to said first panel lifting means, said second panel lifting means being for receiving a stack of partition panels;
panel suction means for-engaging a partition panel in a stack of panels on said second panel lifting means and for conveying the panel onto said first panel lifting means; truck means connected to said panel suction means and said product loader for alternately moving a layer of products held between said front and rear stops of said product loader onto a panel on said first panel lifting means, and moving said panel suction means to place a panel on the layer of products after said first lifting means has lowered the layer of products into a basket at said basket loading position, so that a stack of alternating layers of canned products and partition panels is formed in the basket at said basket loading position;
a first basket pool conveyor having an input end for receiving a basket loaded with panels and canned products from said basket loading position, said first basket pool conveyor having an output end for discharging baskets loaded with panels and canned products;
at least one sterilization unit having an input end adjacent said output end of said first basket pooling conveyor, said sterilization unit having an output end for discharging baskets containing panels and sterilized canned products;
a second basket pool conveyor at said output end of said sterilization unit, said second basket pool conveyor having an output end adjacent said basket unloading position of said basket conveyor for discharging baskets with panels and sterilized products onto said basket conveyor at said basket unloading position;
unloading means at said basket unloading position for unloading alternate panels and layers of sterilized products from a basket at said basket unloading position;
a discharge conveyor for receiving sterilized canned products from said unloading means; and a panel conveyor for receiving panels from said unloading means and conveying said panels onto said second panel lifting means;
said supply, layer, basket, first basket pool, second basket pool and panel conveyors all extending substantially horizontally and said sterilizing unit extending substantially horizontally.
a supply conveyor for supplying canned products;
a layer conveyor having an input end adjacent said supply conveyor for receiving canned products therefrom and an output end for discharging a layer of canned products;
layer stopping means positioned adjacent said layer conveyor intermediate said input and output ends thereof for stopping a layer of canned products on said layer conveyor;
first panel lifting means at said output end of said layer conveyor for receiving a partition panel at a horizontal level of said output end;
a basket conveyor having a basket unloading position and an opposite basket loading position, said basket loading posi-tion being at said first panel lifting means, said basket loading position being at said first panel lifting means, said basket conveyor receiving a basket having an open bottom at said basket loading position with a top of the basket being below the horizontal level of said output end of said layer conveyor, the basket conveyor operating to move baskets from said basket unloading position to said basket loading position;
a product loader having a front stop and a rear stop for holding a layer of canned products therebetween;
second panel lifting means next to said first panel lifting means, said second panel lifting means being for receiving a stack of partition panels;
panel suction means for-engaging a partition panel in a stack of panels on said second panel lifting means and for conveying the panel onto said first panel lifting means; truck means connected to said panel suction means and said product loader for alternately moving a layer of products held between said front and rear stops of said product loader onto a panel on said first panel lifting means, and moving said panel suction means to place a panel on the layer of products after said first lifting means has lowered the layer of products into a basket at said basket loading position, so that a stack of alternating layers of canned products and partition panels is formed in the basket at said basket loading position;
a first basket pool conveyor having an input end for receiving a basket loaded with panels and canned products from said basket loading position, said first basket pool conveyor having an output end for discharging baskets loaded with panels and canned products;
at least one sterilization unit having an input end adjacent said output end of said first basket pooling conveyor, said sterilization unit having an output end for discharging baskets containing panels and sterilized canned products;
a second basket pool conveyor at said output end of said sterilization unit, said second basket pool conveyor having an output end adjacent said basket unloading position of said basket conveyor for discharging baskets with panels and sterilized products onto said basket conveyor at said basket unloading position;
unloading means at said basket unloading position for unloading alternate panels and layers of sterilized products from a basket at said basket unloading position;
a discharge conveyor for receiving sterilized canned products from said unloading means; and a panel conveyor for receiving panels from said unloading means and conveying said panels onto said second panel lifting means;
said supply, layer, basket, first basket pool, second basket pool and panel conveyors all extending substantially horizontally and said sterilizing unit extending substantially horizontally.
2. A sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein said unloading means comprises a further layer conveyor for supplying layers of sterilized products to said discharge conveyor; further panel lifting means for lifting a lowermost panel in a basket at said basket unloading position to a level where an upper layer of sterilized products is brought to a horizontal level of said further layer conveyor; a product unloader having front and rear stops for holding a layer of products therebetween and for moving the layer of products from above said further first panel lifting means onto said further layer conveyor; further panel suction means for engaging an uppermost panel on said further first panel lifting means and for moving the engaged panel onto said panel conveyor; further truck means connected to said product unloader and said further panel suction means for alternately moving an uppermost layer of products from said further first panel lifting means onto said further layer conveyor and for moving an uppermost panel from said further first panel lifting means onto said panel conveyor.
3. A sterilization system according to claim 2, wherein said panel conveyor is movable transversely to said second basket pool conveyor and above said second basket pool conveyor for depositing panels placed on said panel conveyor by said further panel suction means, onto said second panel lifting means.
4. A sterilization system according to claim 3, wherein said basket conveyor moves parallel to said panel conveyor, said first-mentioned and further layer conveyors move trans-versely to said panel conveyor.
5. A sterilization system according to claim 2, including a plurality of sterilization units all extending parallel to each other and being spaced laterally to each other, said first pool conveyor having means for supplying baskets selectively to an input end of each of said sterilization units, said second basket pool conveyor including means for receiving baskets from an output end of each of said sterilization units.
6. A sterilization unit according to claim 5, wherein said panel and basket conveyors extend parallel to each other and parallel to said first basket pool conveyor and to said plurality of sterilization units, said layer conveyors and said second basket pool conveyor extending parallel to each other and transversely to said panel conveyor.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000473728A CA1246000A (en) | 1985-02-07 | 1985-02-07 | Sterilization processing system for can-sealed products |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000473728A CA1246000A (en) | 1985-02-07 | 1985-02-07 | Sterilization processing system for can-sealed products |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1246000A true CA1246000A (en) | 1988-12-06 |
Family
ID=4129773
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000473728A Expired CA1246000A (en) | 1985-02-07 | 1985-02-07 | Sterilization processing system for can-sealed products |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1246000A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-02-07 CA CA000473728A patent/CA1246000A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |